Choose par-baked gluten-free multigrain rolls if you want to serve individual portions warm and the venue has a suitable window for using the oven. Packaged gluten-free multigrain or seeded bread is a better fit for a buffet you want to plan in advance. With either option, make sure the exact packaging remains identifiable and agree with the caterer how the bread will be served to the guest with coeliac disease. Also check the ingredients and allergens separately: gluten-free does not mean free from other allergens.
The packaging must clearly identify the bread as gluten-free, and it must remain distinguishable from regular bread at the buffet. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Discuss with the caterer how the chosen bread will be served separately.
You’ll want to be able to count portions and serve the bread at the right time. Par-baked rolls need oven space and time to bake; with packaged bread, you can keep the packaging or product information available while preparing the portions.
As well as gluten, guests may need to avoid ingredients such as soya, milk, eggs, nuts, sesame, mustard or lupin. Allergen information varies from one bread to another, so check the label of the exact product rather than relying on the ‘gluten-free’ claim alone.
For a wedding buffet, guests’ dietary requirements determine which products are suitable. You can then decide how you want to serve them.
A good fit if: you want to serve individual portions warm and have access to an oven. Albert Heijn lists Schär Meergranenbroodjes in packs of four, with a baking time of 5–7 minutes at 200 °C.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time to bake them and will need to check separately for other allergens.
A good fit if: you want to plan portions in advance and avoid baking during the reception.
Bear in mind: how to store the bread once opened and how to keep it identifiable when serving. PLUS recommends consuming Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn within a few days of opening, or freezing it straight away.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim and clear identification | Check for ‘gluten-free’ on the exact packaging. Agree with the caterer how the bread will be served separately and identified clearly. | If a guest has coeliac disease, I want to be able to point out which bread is for them without confusing it with regular bread. Around 42% of consumers put this check first. |
| Portions and serving time | Compare the quantity in each pack and the preparation and storage instructions with the oven space available and the buffet plan. | If lots of portions need to be ready at once, I want to know whether baking fits into the schedule or whether packaged bread would be easier to serve. For around 33% of consumers, serving arrangements are the most important consideration. |
| Other allergens | Check the ingredients and ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for the exact product, and make sure they meet the needs of the guests concerned. | If a guest has another dietary requirement as well as coeliac disease, I don’t want to assume that one gluten-free bread will meet both needs. This combination is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
The word ‘multigrain’ says nothing about whether a product meets the requirements for a gluten-free claim. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food sold to the final consumer must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten to carry that claim.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a specific product with ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging, and check the packaging again when it arrives.
The gluten-free breads listed may also contain soya or other relevant ingredients, or carry warnings about their possible presence. So one gluten-free option won’t necessarily suit every guest with additional dietary requirements.
Keep up-to-date allergen information for each bread you choose for the caterer, and discuss individual dietary requirements before setting up the buffet.
Albert Heijn gives baking instructions for Schär Meergranenbroodjes of 5–7 minutes at 200 °C. This requires oven space and someone who can bake the rolls at the right time.
Before placing your order, agree who will bake the rolls and when. If that isn’t practical, consider a suitable packaged bread instead.
An ingredients list or product listing you saw previously may not match the packaging delivered for the wedding. This is particularly important when guests need to avoid specific allergens.
Check current availability before ordering, then compare the label with the agreed dietary requirements when the bread arrives.
The supermarket listings mentioned include both par-baked gluten-free multigrain rolls and packaged gluten-free multigrain bread from Schär. These are different formats for different serving plans.
The gluten-free seeded bread listed from Jumbo Lekker Vrij is an option if you want to portion a larger seeded loaf.
PLUS lists its own gluten-free seeded bread, made with linseed, sunflower seeds and gluten-free oat flakes.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used when food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. The words ‘multigrain’ or ‘seeded’ don’t provide this information, so check the claim on the exact packaging.
The caterer must be able to tell guests which allergens are present in unpackaged bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that this information can be provided in writing, or verbally if it is clear that guests can ask for it. Agree in advance how the exact gluten-free product will remain identifiable and how guests can access the information.
No. The gluten-free claim says nothing about other allergens. For Lekker Vrij Meerzadenbrood, Jumbo lists soya and possible traces of almonds, eggs and milk. Schär Meergranenbroodjes are listed as containing soya, with possible traces of lupin, sesame and mustard. Read the label of the product that will actually be served.
Don’t assume this when choosing gluten-free bread. Ingredients vary from one product to another: some product listings mention iodised salt, while Albert Heijn lists sea salt for Schär Meergranenbroodjes. If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list on the exact packaging.
